GMS practices in Donegal were paid over €40 million

BY HARRY WALSH
THE General Medical Services (Payments) Board Annual Report, 2013 shows that more than €40 million was made in payments to GPs, Pharmacists, Dentists and Optometrists in Donegal.

Details of the payments across the county were released by the Health Service Executive yesterday (Thursday).
GPs across Donegal earned more that €22 million (22.041m) through the scheme with Pharmacists, (€14.2m) Dentists (€3.477m) and Optometrists (€907,096) in 2013.

One family doctor’s practice received more than half a million in fees and allowances under the medical card and general medical services schemes in 2013.

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The figure showed that the practice of Dr Anthony Delap in Bunbeg received gross payments of €501,295 including practice support allowances in 2013, the latest year for which figures are available.

A spokesperson for the HSE stressed that the figures published were gross payments which are inclusive of allowances paid in respect of the employment of practice nurses and secretaries, annual leave and grants for the development and organisation of practice premises and procedures.

Each year the GMS Board publishes an annual report which presents a profile of payments to GPs, Pharmacists, Dentists and Optometrists who provide services under the GMS scheme to medical card holders and to qualifying persons under other community drug schemes.

Letterkenny based dentist, Dr Terence Fox, is among the top earning dentists under the scheme, claiming €265,293 with Dr Paddy McKibben, Letterkenny (€241,916), Dr Anthony John Bonar, Dungloe (€219,192), Mr Gerald Roarty, Ballybofey (€204,060) and Mr Conal James Kilfeather, Letterkenny (€199,352) also included among the top thirty earners across the country.

Magees Pharmacy in Letterkenny was the top earning dispensary in Donegal in 2013 according to the Payments to Pharmacy fees in 2013. They received €471,454, followed by O’Flionn Pharmacy Ltd (481,782), Foyleview Pharmacy Ltd, Lifford (€469,344), Flatley Chemist Ltd, Stranorlar (€461,415) and Bonners Pharmacy Ltd, Ballybofey (€438,166)

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